Georgia Vietnam vet reunited with stolen Purple Heart 38 years later

WGXA in Georgia is reporting on a Vietnam veteran who had his Purple Heart stolen in 1982 and was recently reunited with it. From WGXA;

A Vietnam veteran in Dublin was just reunited with what he called a “long lost family member,” his purple heart medal.

“I graduated from high school on a Friday night. On Saturday I got my draft notice, and on Monday I was up here in Georgia at Fort Benning,” recounts Army veteran Gus Albritton.

That was in 1968. At only 18, Albritton was deployed to Vietnam.

His tour left him wounded from three separate incidents.

“First time in the right shoulder with an AK47. The second time, I was wounded through my feet, my legs my feet, groin… Through the back, an RPG went through the bunker. I got fragments in my back and one piece came all the way through me out my chest…I’m still walking. The good lord’s been good to me,” said Albritton.

He was awarded multiple purple hearts as proof of his sacrifice.

The war ended in ’75 and for Albritton, life kept moving.

Years passed, but his memory of the war never faded.

“I kept a lot of stuff in a big water jug and I had pocket knives and a bunch of change and other trinkets in there, and I had thrown my purple heart in there.”

But, in 1982 Albritton’s home in Brooksfield, Florida was broken into.

“Whoever broke into my house stole some guns and they stole that bottle of change.”

He thought his purple heart was gone forever.

Still, he reported it lost and moved on.

After that, he just assumed it was gone forever. He reported it lost and moved on with his life.

Then, the unexpected happened.

“Jamie bath said he had purchased a purple heart at a yard sale or a flea market and it had my name engraved on the back.”

Albritton gave Jamie Bath, a complete stranger, his address here in Dublin and “Well, I got my purple heart back after 38 years.”

Of all places, Bath came across the medal in Brooksfield, the same city where it was lost.

Albritton calls the find a miracle.

Albritton says his Purple Hearts are the highest medals he has. But, they’re more than just symbols.

“You have to shed blood for your country to receive a Purple Heart and I’ve shed my share of blood for my country.”

Albritton, now 71 years old, says he’s most looking forward to meeting Jamie Bath for a cup of coffee, to thank him face to face.

This isn’t the first time Gus has made the news. In 2015 13WMAZ featured him in an article on his recovery from issues with PTSD and how he now helps the next generation with their PTSD. In 2016 WXGA wrote him up when he was honored for having volunteered 23,000 hours to the VA Hospital in Dublin over a period of 25 years.

Category: Army, Feel Good Stories, Purple Heart, Veterans in the news